Fire Beacon Camping

Treat the kids to a day on the splash rides and mini-trains at Crealy Theme Park and Resort (20 minutes' drive) or try out the dumper rides at Diggerland Devon (25 minutes). Meanwhile everyone – even grumpy teens – is likely to love meeting the residents at The Donkey Sanctuary (15 minutes). For bucket-and-spade days, Budleigh Salterton and Branscombe (both 20 minutes) have long shingle beaches for kicking about in the waves, while Sandy Bay beach (30 minutes) is a fab spot for windsurfing, rock pooling and swimming – there are lifeguards on duty in summer. One of the National Trust’s strangest properties is close by – A La Ronde (25 minutes) is a bizarre 16-sided house with interiors swathed in shells. Delightful Beer (20 minutes) has a fishing harbour, ice-cream shops and indie art galleries to potter around, and Sidmouth (10 minutes) has a lively cultural scene too, with a theatre and cinema, as well as summer concerts and festivals on the prom.